[Diagnosis and management of septic arthritis after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction].
OBJECTIVE
To summary the experience in the diagnosis and management of septic arthritis after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.


METHODS
The knee joint infections after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were retrospectively studied. From January 1997 to July 2007, 16 of 3638 patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions experienced postoperative septic arthritis. The incidence, cause, presentation, laboratory results, treatment, and outcome of all infected patients were analyzed. The experiences of diagnosis and management of septic arthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were summarized.


RESULTS
The incidence of septic arthritis after ACL reconstruction was 0.44%. The most common symptoms of the infected patients were fever, swelling, severe pain, tenderness, restricted motion. Eleven (68.8%) patients were positive for bacteria cultures, and Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common bacteria. Nine of the 16 patients were performed arthroscopic debridement, and the other 7 patients were conservatively treated. All patients regained full range of motion and normal stability at the 19.7 months follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Septic arthritis, which could bring the dysfunction of the joint, is subsequent with cartilage injury and the failure of the ACL grafts. Early diagnosis and treatment of arthroscopic debridement in time are essential to the ultimate clinical outcome.
Wang
Cheng
C
Institute of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China.
Ao
Ying-Fang
YF
Wang
Jian-Quan
JQ
Hu
Yue-Lin
YL
Cui
Guo-Qing
GQ
Yu
Jia-Kuo
JK
Tian
De-Xiang
DX
Yin
Yu
Y
Jiao
Chen
C
Guo
Qin-Wei
QW
Yan
Hui
H
Wang
Yong-Jian
YJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D050376:Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Grafting; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies